I have both a Bernina 820 which retails here in Canada for almost $9,000. so that's out of your price range, even if it's cheaper in the States. I also have a Juki & it is a work horse. It only sews straight stitches but has a big harp area for quilting & I love my Juki. The Bernina is quality throughout, no plastic parts here, so if you could get one that is a demo machine or a trade in, I would highly recommend that. Janome is also a machine with a good reputation but there is a lot of plastic in them. You need to find a good dealer with a good reputation & then check out what they have. Good luck with your search. Let us know what you end up with.